Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in Vancouver

Last KITCHEN stop…

The last time I been to this place was years ago and totally forgot ever since then they moved up a couple of blocks to Burrard Street beside Joey’s. (Silly me parked a handful of blocks away).

Was greeted by the host upon arrival and led to a tiny table at the back. I could never understand sometimes why I always get these odd spots when there are plenty of better options available?!? I looked too relaxed and casual during off hours? (simplicity are the luxury of the accomplished, can only be seen by the higher intellects… Lol)

I noticed the menu was different than before? Downsized? (Damn it lol I honestly came here to have a side of king crab legs with my meal). Anyways, here were the food I ordered;

Caesar (single) & mojito melograno. The drinks were okay. Steamed mussels and clams. 1 big juicy mussel with another 5 small mussels and the rest were clams. Not too impressed by that especially for $26, it’s what I called low levelling a dish. Jumbo prawn and scallops with oscietra caviar. The prawn was jumbo indeed but all I saw was a scallop not scallops? (maybe I needed to wait for the caviars to hatch into scallops?) the hand pressed raviolane was too firmed, resulting in a texture as it was undercooked. Charred Spanish octopus. It was very tender and the light char gave it that light smokey flavour, was very delicious. Last time had something like this was at an omakase in Japan. (Sushi chefs here take notes on this one) Beef tenderloin. Once again the egg yolk raviolo was a bit too firm, the beef tenderloin steak was tougher than eating a low quality sirloin, and wasn’t cooked evenly all around. Why baseball cut? It’s one of the hardest form to master and cook properly. I only managed to eat half of the steak. It should be renamed “Beef tougher-loin” for this dish. It’s truly a $65 failed. Table Side Linguine Cacio e Pepe. Over the years, I had many amazing dishes served table side at various restaurants but unfortunately this wasn’t one of them, might as well served it straight from the kitchen. Yeah not a single hint of “wow” in this one. Some might find the sauce a bit too salty but I personally enjoyed the sauce. However I find the linguine to be a bit too firmed. I probably looked like a cow chewing away at it so it wasn’t too pleasant or maybe it was slightly undercooked. (Facepalm) Tiramisu & chocolate lava cake. The lava cake was pretty generic like other places. The tiramisu was pretty good and well done.

The service was okay, but as a fine dining restaurant, it’s fine dining 101 that the table be cleaned of crumbs etc.. throughout each course. (So far I noticed none of the Glowbal restaurants do it during my revisits)

The atmosphere is crucial to the dining experience. This means comfort, how can one dine comfortably being all cramped up like sardines in a tight dining space? The tables were so closed to each other that whoever wanted to get out, needed to brush their buttcheeks against the tables (so appetizing!)

As for the food, they represent the caliber of the chefs and the image of the restaurant. I’ll let the audience decide on what I think according to my description of the food.

Well this was the last stop of me revisiting all the Glowbal restaurants and honestly I wasn’t too impressed with any one of them. The food quality didn’t match the prices, the services fell short of fine dining standard, and the atmospheres were like dining in a shoebox. Don’t tell me such a big restaurant group doesn’t have enough talents to propel the Glowbal restaurants to the next step forward?!?

P.S. feeding those amateur foodies/ vloggers for hype up is a very short...

I attended my friend's birthday dinner at Italian Kitchen on Saturday, and unfortunately, it was not a good experience. I had heard positive reviews about this restaurant, but after our visit, I'm not so sure.

To start, our server had a noticeably poor attitude toward our group. He refused to bring us bread until the entire party had arrived and didn’t allow us to place any orders ahead for the table. This set an uncomfortable tone from the beginning.

Things only got worse when one of my friends found a hair in her pasta. When she brought it to the server's attention, his response was dismissive and borderline rude. At that point, we collectively decided we no longer wanted to stay and asked for takeout containers. The server brought the boxes, but we had to request bags separately. When he returned, he brought brown paper grocery bags, which surprised us since we knew Italian Kitchen usually provides reusable white bags (branded by Global).

I politely asked if we could have the white bags since many of us had plans afterward and didn’t want to carry bulky brown bags. He told us, “We don’t have any more left, sorry.” However, shortly after, we saw another server handing out those same white bags to a different table. We also noticed staff refilling them from behind the counter, which made us feel singled out and confused about why we were being treated differently. Another member of our group eventually asked a different server for the bags, which we were finally given—but it all felt unnecessarily uncomfortable.

On top of that, one of our friends ordered a simple drink—just tequila and club soda—and it ended up costing the same as her entrée, around $30. The server didn’t even ask which type of tequila she preferred, so we assume he gave her the most expensive option without checking. What's more, the waiter had asked another friend what type of alcohol she wanted in her drink, but he didn’t offer the same courtesy to the friend who ordered the tequila, which felt inconsiderate and confusing.

To make matters worse, the friend who found the hair in her food was still charged for her meal, which felt very odd and unfair, especially given the situation. She decided to pay for it on the spot rather than talk with the waiter, but the whole thing left a bad taste in our mouths.

Overall, we were left feeling disappointed and unwelcome. We understand that with a large group, an automatic 18% gratuity is added to the bill. That’s standard, and usually not an issue for us—we typically tip well over 20% because we value good service. But this time, the service was so poor that we didn’t even feel the 18% was deserved.

It’s unfortunate, especially since this was supposed to be a special night for our friend (the birthday girl). Based on our experience, I can’t confidently recommend Italian Kitchen, despite the good things I’d heard before. I hope this feedback helps improve future customer experiences.

On top of everything else, my friends and I ended up feeling sick the next day after our meal, which only added to the...

As a passionate food enthusiast and a firm believer in the magic of Italian cuisine, I recently visited Italian Kitchen in Vancouver, and it was an experience worth sharing. One of the highlights of my visit was the Happy Hour, available every day from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The menu features a fantastic selection of at least seven spritz cocktails, which adds a fun and refreshing touch to the experience. I particularly enjoyed the Aperol Spritz and the Limoncello Spritz, both of which were expertly crafted. The level of service at Italian Kitchen was exceptional, thanks in large part to Camilla, our server. With her Italian heritage and passion for the cuisine, she provided a service that felt both personal and professional. Camilla took the time to explain each dish in detail, sharing insights into the preparation techniques and cooking methods that reflect the true essence of Italian cooking. She described the process of making the handmade pasta, emphasizing the importance of high-quality flour and the art of kneading the dough to achieve the perfect texture. She also elaborated on how the wood-fired pizzas are baked, resulting in a delightful crispiness that enhances the flavors of the fresh ingredients. Camilla’s enthusiasm for the dishes made our dining experience feel like a journey through Italy. Her knowledge and storytelling transformed our meal into a culinary adventure, where each bite was an invitation to explore the rich traditions of Italian cuisine. During our visit, we indulged in several standout dishes. The Pasta Carbonara was a creamy delight, perfectly balanced with guanciale and pecorino cheese. The Wagyu Carpaccio was elegantly presented, showcasing the rich flavors and tender texture of the beef. We also tried the Fried Calamari, which was crispy and served with garlic aioli that complemented the dish beautifully. The Chicken Milanese was another highlight, featuring a perfectly fried crust and served with grilled vegetables lo. To top off our meal, we savored one of the best Tiramisu desserts we've ever tried, with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and luscious mascarpone. In conclusion, my visit to Italian Kitchen was a culinary delight. With a robust menu, enticing happy hour offerings, and exceptional service, it is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an authentic Italian dining experience in Vancouver.

**A Note on Our Return Visit We loved the food so much that we returned to the restaurant the very next day. Once again, the experience was equally special, featuring intuitive service that was incredibly pleasant and filled with smiles and good vibes. This time, Chris attended to us with utmost professionalism, explaining each dish on the menu with care. She was attentive to every small detail at our table, demonstrating the kind of service we’ve only seen in exceptional restaurants...